robertson



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. H. ROBERTSON.

MEANS FOR RELEASING GRIPS ON CABLE GARS. No. 424,619.

Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

N. rrrzns. Photo-Lithographer, Washington. 0v :2.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. H. ROBERTSON.

MEANS FOR RELEASING GRIPS 0N CABLE (JARS.

Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. H. ROBERTSON. MEANS FOR RELEASING GRIPS ON CABLE CARS.

Patented Apr. 1.1890..

[WWW will] .//%Zson %Wsses:- A f/ AVM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. ROBERTSON, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR RELEASING GRIPS ON CABLE C ARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,619, dated April 1,1890.

Application filed J annary 29, 1890. Serial 110,338,523. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. ROBERTSON, of the city and county of NewYork, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Means for Beleasing Grips on Cable Cars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Drivers of cars operated by endless cables sometimes neglect to releasethe cable from the grip when such should be donea-s, for instance, whereit is desired to pick up another cable; and my improvement relates tomeans for automatically releasing the grip at such times, so that suchreleasing will not be dependent upon the care of the driver.

I will describe my improvement in detail,

and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of aportion of a railway-car, showing means for releasing the grip embodyingmy improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation of a portion of the car, illustrating modified means foraccomplishing the releasing of the grip. Fig. l is a plan of the same.Fig. 5 is a detail showing a means for operating a dog by which a tripto release the grip is operated. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of thesame, taken on the line as 00, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section ofthe same, taken on the line y y, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference designate corre' sponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates a portion of framing for a car, and A a platform therefor.

A designates wheels, which wheels are mounted upon axles a, in the usualmanner. From the axles a is hung a grip-frame B. The grip-frame Bsupports a cross-piece 12 to which an upper jaw b of the grip is rigidlysecured. The lower or movable jaw b is adapted to be moved vertically insuitable guides upon the upper portion of the fixed jaw Z). Upon theoross-piece b are fulcrumed two bell-crank levers b b the lower arms ofwhich are provided with pins 11 Z), extendin g into slots 12 19 formedin upwardly-extending portions b Z1 upon the top of the movable jaw b.The upper arms of the levers b b are pivotally connected to grip-rods I)Z2 The cable 0 is gripped. between the jaws h b by elevating the jaw b,and is released by the dropping down of said jaw.

All the parts thus described are of ordinary construction and donot-require further detail description.

Referring now to the example of my improvement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Ddesig- ,nates a rod, which rod is pivotally connected near one end toone of the arms of a bell- .crank lever D which lever is fulcrumed uponthe platform of the car. The other arm of said lever bears a pin (1,which pin is in contact with a dog D mounted in this instance upon acase or shell d, inclosing a gear-wheel. (Not shown.) This gear-wheel ismounted upon a grip-spindle D Upon the grip-spindle D is a ratchet-wheel(1 with which the dog D is in engagement-when the lower jaw of the gripis elevated to grip the cable.

The rotation of the grip spindle D in one direction causes the rotationof the gearvheel referred to in the same direction, which gear-wheelmeshes with a gear-wheel, also not shown, in a case or shell (Z upon theshaft of which is a peripherically-grooved wheel (1*, located below theplatform A. A chain (1 is adapted to be wound upon the wheel (1 by therotation of the said wheel. Such chain is connected near its other endto the grip-rod Z). Therefore when the grip-spindle D is rotated in thedirection referred to the chain (1 will be wound up upon the wheel (1*,longitudinal mot-ion will be imparted to the grip-rod, and the lower jaw12 of the grip will be raised. The dog D acting in conjunction with theratchet-wheel d operates to main tain said lower jaw in its raisedposition. \Vhen the dog is released, the weight of the lower jaw Z) ofthe grip will cause it to drop, thus imparting a longitudinal movementto the grip-rod b in the reverse direction to that described, wherebythe chain (Z will be unwound from the wheel d, and the cable will ofcourse be released. Mechanism similar to that just described is arrangedupon the other end of the car, and operates through the grip-rod b in asimilar manner. The other end of the rod D is pivotally connected to atrip F, which latter is, as shown, pivotally hung above said connectionupon. an upright E, extending from the grip frame B. A rod D similar tothe rod D and extending to the other end of the c-ar, is pivotallyconnected to a trip F, which latter is also, as shown, hung upon anupright E, extending from the grip-frame B. Should either of these tripsbe rocked in one direction they will impart rearward longitudinalmovement to the rods D D as the case may be, which movement will causethe rocking of the bell-crank lever D. The rocking of such lever willcause the pin cl thereon to force the dog D over and throw it out ofengagement with the ratchetwheel (F. The lower jaw of the grip will thushe released and will at once drop, thereby releasing the cable. I haveshown convenient means for causing the swinging of said trips in thedirection just described, consisting of toes or projections g, which areadapted to be thrown up into the path of the trip F or F, according tothe direction in which the car is moving, so that said trip will contactwith the toes or projections and cause the swinging of the trips in themanner and for the purpose described.

It will be observed that the trips F F extend downwardly into closeproximity to the road-bed, so that but a slight elevation of the toes orprojections g will be necessary in order to cause the two to contactwith each other. The toes or projections g do not normally extend abovethe level of the road-bed. They are mounted upon one of the arms oflevers G, near the outer ends of said leversin this instance throughsuitable openings g, formed in metallic plates G set into the road-bed.

I have shown one of the levers G and its attaclnnent more clearly inFigs. 5 and 6; but it is to be understood that there may be oneco-operatin g with each of the trips F F. The plates G form tops orcovers for boxes G preferably made of metal and sunk to the level of theroad-bed. The levers G are arranged in these boxes and are fulcrumed inuprights 9 extending from a plate 9 which latter is secured upon thebottom of the boxes G The toes or projections g are, as shown, pivotallyconnected to the levers G, and extend upwardly upon one side and inclose proximity to the slit or opening f, formed in conduits .F for thecable, of which I have shown but one, and through which slit or openingf the grip-shank extends. They are used with two tracks, upon one ofwhich the car passes in one direction and upon the other of which itpasses in the other direction, and one of said levers and toes will ofcourse be used with each track. The other arms of the levers G arepivotally connected to levers H, which levers are fulcrumed near one oftheir ends upon the webs h of rails H" of the cartrack. The weight ofthe arms of the levers G bearing the toes or projections g is greaterthan that of the arms to which the levers H are connected, andconsequently when the toes or projections g occupy their normal positionor are substantially level at their upper ends with the road-bed thelevers II will have been raised at their free end portions, so that theywill occupy a somewhat angular position, as shown more clearly in Fig.7.

Stops 7L2, extending upwardly from the bottom of the boxes G and beneaththe toes or projections g, operate to prevent a too extended downwardrocking of the portion of the levers G to which the toes or projectionsg are connected. Suflicient movement is allowed to the levers in thisdirection, however, to cause the rocking of the free end portions of thelevers H upwardly into a position where the upper sides of said endportions will be substantially on a level with the tops of therail-heads.

I have shown the rails H as provided upon their inner edges withtrough-shaped flanges It will be observed that the levers G extenddiagonally. This is for the purpose, assuming that the car is moving inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, of causing the front wheel' tostrike the lever H and depress it, so as to elevate the toe orprojection 9 before the trip F or F, as the case may be, has reachedsaid toe or projection. Said trips occupy positions relatively to thetread of the wheel which will admit of this. The lever II, it will beobserved, is flattened upon its top for a distance, so that the wheelwill remain in contact therewith and depress it a sufficient length oftime to enable the trip F or F, as the case may be, to strike the toe gand be swung thereby. Such swinging of' the trips will cause theautomatic releasing of the grip, as previously described.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modified form of mechanism to beoperated either by hand or by the trips in order to release the grip. Asin the other example described, I have shown the mechanism as arrangedupon one end of the car only. Such mechanism consists of a lever J, uponwhich is mounted a locking-pawl j, operated by pull-rod j. This lever isprovided upon one side with a pin j which pin extends through a slot jin a plate 7' secured upon the platform of the car. It also extendsthrough an arc-shaped slotj formed in one of the arms of a bell cranklever J which leveris fulcru med upon upwardly-extending plates orprojections j. Upon the upper edges of the 'plates or projections j areratchets 7' with which the pawl j may be engaged. All these partsarc oldand of well-known construction.

By rocking the lever J 2 downwardly the lever J is bodily carried towardthe dash-board of the car and is locked in such position by the lever JThe lever J may then be rocked upon the pin 7' as a fulcrum. The lowerend 0f the lever J below the platform of the car is pivotally connectedto a bar L. hen the lever J is rocked, longitudinal movement will beimparted to the bar L. The other end of the said bar is provided with atransverselyextending aperture Z. (Shown more clearly in Fig.

Upon the rod b or U as the case may be, and at the ends thereof adjacentto the ends of the car, are fixed heads Z. The heads Z are bifurcated attheir forward or free ends, and the bar L may be slid in between saidbifurcations. Through said bifurcations extend transversely suitableapertures, which, when the bar L occupies a proper position'between thebifurcations, will coincide wit-l1 the apertures Z in the bar L.Fulcrumed upon the head Z, near the .rear end of the latter, is a bentlever L, the free end portion of which lever is so shaped that when thebar L occupies a position between the bifurcations in the head Z saidend portion may be passed throughthe apertures in said bar and thebifurcations, thus forming a lock which unites the bar and the head Ztogether. Longitudinal movement imparted to the bar L will therefore betransmitted to the rod 1) or Z7 The grip-rod D or D, as the case may be,is connected to the lever L at about midway between the ends of thelatter. Such c011- nection is shown as formed by a chain Z secured nearone end to the rod D or D and at its other end to a link Z", pivotallyconnected to the lever.

"Vhen the grip is in operation, or, in other words, is gripping thecable, the chain Z is taut.

When the grip is released by hand by the operation of the lever J, theconnection between the lever L and the head Z will not be broken, andthe chain Z may slacken during the rearward movement of the lever L. Thegrip being in operation, however, and the chain Z" being taut, as thetrip F or F strikes the toe rearward longitudinal movement will beimparted to the rod D or D which will cause the lever L to be rockedupon'its fulcrum, thus releasing its free end portion and disconnectingthe rod L from the head Z. The weight of the lower jaw of the grip willthen cause the said jaw to drop and releasethe cable. The head Z canonly be again connected to the rod L by hand, as it will be necessaryfor the driver of the car to get under the car and rock the lever L, soas to again pass its free end portion through the apertures in thebifurcated portions of the head Z and the rod L. It will thus be seenthat by my improvement very simple and effective means is providedwhereby carelessness on the part of the driver in releasing the grip atthe proper times is automatically and effectively guarded against.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with a car, of a grip adapted to grip a cable,mechanism, substantially such as described, for opening and closing saidgrip, a swinging trip extending downwardly from the car, a connectionbetween said trip and said grip opening and closing mechanism, and amovable toe or proj ection operated by the car during its movements, soas to be brought into position to be struck by the trip and cause theautomatic opening of the grip, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a car, of a grip, mechanism, substantially suchas described, for opening and closing said grip, a swinging trip uponthe car, a connection between said trip and said opening and closingmechanism, a movable toe or projection, and a lever upon which said toeor projection is mounted, arranged beneath the road-bed and rocked bythe car during the movements of the latter to elevate said toe orprojection into a position to be struck by the trip, substantially asspecified.

3. The combination, with a car, of a grip, mechanism, substantially suchas described, for opening and closing the grip, a swinging .tripextending downwardly from the car, a

connection between said trip and the opening and closing mechanism, amovable too or projection, an angularly-extending lever, upon one arm ofwhich said toe or projection is mounted, and a second lever connected tothe lever first named and extending upwardly into close proximity to therailwayrail, whereby a wheel of the car will be caused during themovements of the latter to contact with said second-named lever andcause the rocking of the first-named lever to elevate the toe orproject-ion into a position where it will be struck by the trip,substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with a car, of a grip, mechanism for opening andclosing the grip, comprising two rods, a lock for securing said rodstogether, a trip, a connection between said trip and the lock, and amovable toe or projection adapted to be moved by the car during themovements of the latter, so as to be brought into position to be struckby the trip, substantially as described, whereby when said toe orprojection is struck by the trip said lock will be unlocked and theconnection between said two rods severed, substantially as specified.

JOHN H. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, GEORGE BARR

